Vertical wall suspended compartments



Feb. 27, 1968 J, plELMAN VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1964 iiii i i INVENTOR.

HAROLD J D/ELMAN BY flow 2M Feb. 27, 1968 H. J. DIELMAN VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS l3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

HA Row J- D/ELMAN H. J. DIELMAN VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS Feb. 27, 19 8 l3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 6, 1964 INVENTOR. HAROLD I D/ELMAN Y B M J. M

Feb. 27, 1968 H. J. DIELMAN VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS l3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 6, 1964 INVENTOR.

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VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS Filed Jan. 6, 1964 13 Sheets-$heet 9 INVENTOR HAROLD I D/ELMAN Feb. 27, 1968 H. J. DIELMAN ,3

VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS Filed Jan. 6, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 1O INVENTOR. HAROLD I D/ELMAN My W A ffo/ -ney Feb. 27, 1968 H. J. DIELMAN 3,370,388

VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS Filed Jan. 6, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 I. 26'' K 00a INVENTOR.

HAROLD I D/ELMAN Feb. 27, 1968 H. J. DlELMAN 3,370,388

VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED COMPARTMENTS Filed Jan. 6, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. D/ELMAN BYV/MZMJ Affarn 25/ United States Patent 3,370,388 VERTICAL WALL SUSPENDED (ZOMPARTMENTS Harold J. Dielrnan, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignor to The Sanymetal Products Company, Inc., Cleveiand, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 335,876 Claims. (Cl. 52-239) This invention relates to vertical wall suspended compartments, and more particularly to cubicle assemblies such as toilet enclosing compartments, hospital cornpartments, utility room compartments and the like, which are entirely supported in cantilever suspension from a vertical interior wall of the building and without floor or ceiling support.

Increased sanitation of room installed compartments or cubicles, can be attained when the dividing partitions as well as the front wall-forming panels or pilasters and doors which form the cubicle sections, are positioned in spaced relation to both the room floor and ceiling, and

which permits convenient mopping and cleaning of the room floor, as well as convenient cleaning of the vertical walls and ceiling of the room in Which they are installed.

Vertical wall suspended compartments and cubicle assemblies are essentially composed of a series of one or more cubicle sections each comprising a dividing partition whose base end is secured in cantilever suspension from the vertical room wall, a transversely extending front wall forming panel or pilaster secured to the front end of the dividing partition, and a door hingedly mounted on a vertical jamb edge of the front wall forming panel or pilaster. As thus constructed, the door body is hingedly supported in cantilever suspension from the front wall-forming panel or pilaster, the pilaster and door combination are together supported in canti lever suspension from the dividing partition, and finally the door, front wall-forming pilaster and dividing partition itself, are all basically supported in cantilever suspension from the vertical room wall.

If such vertical wall suspended compartments or cubicles are to permanently withstand the rigors of use and abuse, serious structural, mounting, anchoring, leveling and aligning problems are presented. For example, the series of dividing partition-supported front wall panels or pilasters must be maintained in precise alignment, with the adjacent vertical jamb forming edges of the pilasters precisely spaced to define a door opening therebetween into which a prefabricated door may be precisely fitted, with one vertical edge of the door hingedly mounted on a vertical jamb edge of one of the pilasters, and with the opposite vertical edge of the mounted door positioned to abut against a door stop attached to the adjacent vertical edge of the adjacent pilaster or front wall forming panel.

For a permanent and lasting cubicle installation, the vertical base end of each dividing partition must be rigidly anchored in cantilever suspension from the vertical room wall in a manner to prevent both sidesway or downward sag of the dividing partion, since any sides- Way or downsag thereof would throw the front wallforming pilaster attached thereto out of precise alignment with the adjacent pilaster, and also dimensionally change the door opening defined between adjacent front wall-forming pilasters. Additionally, to attain precise alignment of adjacent front wall forming pilasters and precisely dimensioned door receiving openings therebetween, the vertical base end of each dividing partition must be precisely leveled so that the medial center lines of all dividing partitions are in precise parallelism.

Each vertical wall suspended dividing partition, used for example as components for toilet enclosing cubicles, should be in the order of four to five feet in height when Patented Feb. 27, 1968 the lower end thereof is spaced a distance of approximately one foot from the floor, and should have a horizontal length of four to five feet or more. Because of the substantial horizontal length of the cantilever supported dividing partition, substantial leverage stresses are exerted thereon by reason of the weight of the pilaster and door suspended from the front end of the dividing partition, and the weight of the dividing partition itself. Accordingly, each dividing partition must be so constructed and reinforced that it will rigidly and permanently maintain its cantilever mounted position on the vertical room wall, and resist all downsag, sidesway, bending, warping, twisting and deformation stresses resulting from the inherent weight of the dividing partition itself, as well as the inherent weight of the door and pilaster as supported and suspended from the front end of the dividing partition. In addition, the dividing partition must be adequately strong and rigid to also resist all strains and stresses which may be externally imposed thereon through years of use and abuse.

It must be anticipated that particularly severe strains and stresses will be imposed on the vertical wall anchoring means, the dividing partition, and front wall-forming pilaster and door as supported thereby during long years of use of the installation, as a result of body weights and other substantial hanging loads applied to the upper end of the door, pilaster and/or dividing partition during use of the installation. Such externally applied forces impose severe sidesway and downsag stresses on the anchoring means, and impose severe downsag, sidesway, bending, warping, twisting, and other deformation stresses on the cantilever suspended dividing partition, as well as on the front wall forming pilaster attached thereto.

Vertical wall suspended compartment or cubicle assemblies constructed in accordance with this invention, are particularly designed to withstand and resist all conceivable downsag, sidesway, bending, warping, twisting and other deformation stresses which may be imposed thereon during a lifetime of use and abuse of the installation.

In accordance with this invention, each vertical wall suspended divding partition contains a structural framework which includes a vertically extending base frame member which is preferably channel shaped in transverse section and presents a web portion of approximately five to six inches in transverse width, and a pair of opposite side flanges approximately three inches wide which have a slight forward taper. To further strengthen the dividing partition construction, a pair of arms each preferably generally channel shaped in transverse section, may be rigidly secured at one end thereof to the opposite upper and lower ends of the channel shaped base frame member, and which together form a rigid base frame of generally U-shaped form. The channel-shaped base frame member has a vertical length which substantially corresponds to the vertical height of the dividing partition at the base end thereof, and the channel-shaped arms may have a horizontal length of approximately one to two feet. The channel-shaped vertically extending base frame member and the channel-shaped horizontally extending arms are preferably shaped from strong metal plates of approximately one-eighth inch thickness.

The internal framework also includes a series of horizontally extending and verticall spaced reinforcing and bracing members of generally wedge-shaped form in horizontal length, and Whose larger base ends extend into the channel-shaped base frame member and are preferably adhesively bonded to the inner surfaces of the web portion and the side flanges thereof. When horizontally extending upper and lower arms are also rigidly secured to the upper and lower ends of the channel-shaped base frame member to provide an internal U-shaped base frame for the dividing partition, the base ends of the uppermost and lowermost horizontally extending and wedge-shaped bracing members are pocketed within the respective channelshaped arms, and preferably also adhesively bonded to the inner faces of the web portion and side flanges of the respective horizontal arms of the U-shaped base frame. To reduce the weight of the dividing partition, without sacrifice of adequate stiffness and strength, the horizontally extendin and wedge-shaped bracing members are each preferably composed of a plurality of layers of corrugated paperboard adhesively bonded together to provicle a composite thickness of from one to three inches, and which composite member is also chemically treated to increase its stiffness and strength, increase its heat resistance capability, and prevent shrinkage thereof during extended use.

When the front wall forming panel or pilaster is prefabricated as a unit for attachment to the front end of the unitary dividing partition as by suitable brackets, the front end of the unitary dividing partition also contains an internal front frame member which is approximately one to two inches in thickness and to Whose inner vertical face the front ends of the horizontally extending and wedge-shaped bracing members are adhesively bonded. The front frame member thus forms a part of the internal reinforcing framework of the dividing partition, provides a solid base to which the pilaster supporting brakets can be ridigly secured, and is preferably made of wood to further reduce the inherent weight of the dividing partition, with the wood front frame member preferably chemically treated to increase its resistance to heat and prevent shrinkage thereof in use.

Side wall forming panels, each shaped from a relatively light gauge metal or plastic sheet, are applied to the opposite sides of the internal framework of the dividing partition. Each side wall forming panel presents a vertically extending inturned flange which overlaps and is rigidly secured to the rear face of the vertically extending base frame member, and a side wall facing section which extends from the base end to the front end of the dividing partition. The upper and lower horizontal ends of each side wall facing section present inturned flanges which overlap the top and bottom faces of the uppermost and lowermost horizontally extending and wedge-shaped bracing members, with each of the upper and lower inturned flanges terminating in an outfiared lip. A panel reinforcing liner is adhesively bonded to the inner face of the side wall-forming section of each side wall facing panel, and is in turn adhesively bonded to the adjacent side faces of the wedge-shaped bracing members. Each panel liner may be formed from a sheet of corrugated paperboard approximately one-eighth inch thick which has been chemically treated to increase its stiffness, heat resistance and resistance to shrinkage.

Upper and lower horizontally extending cap members of generally wedge-shaped form in horizontal length, are telescopically applied to the upper and lower ends of the paired side wall facing sections and extend from the rear base end to the front end of the dividing partition. Each horizontally extending hood or cap members presents inturned lips along the side edges thereof which interlock with the outflared lips extending from the upper and lower inturned flanges of the side wall facing sections.

The facing section of each wedge-shaped cap member may be generally V-shaped in transverse section to enhance the architectural appearance of the installation. Alternatively, each wedge-shaped cap member may present a relatively fiat facing section. As a further alternative, the paired inturned flanges extending along the upper and lower ends of the side wall facing sections may each be generally wedge-shaped in horizontal length, with the inner edges thereof substantially in abutment along the medial center line of the dividing partition, and which terminate in adjacent outflared lips which may be externally bonded together, and to which a cap member in the form of semi-tubular'and horizontally extending edging strip may be telescopically applied. The paired wedgeshaped inturned flanges extending from the upper and lower ends of the paired side Wall facing sections may extend in a substantially horizontal plane and normal to the paired side wall facing sections; or the paired wedgeshaped inturned flanges may be inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical plane of the side wall forming sections and which terminate in adjacent outflared lips which are externally bonded together and which extend horizontally along the medial center line of the dividing partition, and to which a semi-tubular cap member is telescopically applied.

Where the front wall forming panel or pilaster is fabricated as an independent unit for securement as by suit able brackets to the front end of the independently fabricated dividing partition unit, the front end of such unitary dividing artition is preferably of finished construction, and presents paired inturned flanges extending inwardly from the paired side wall facing sections and in overlapping relation to the front face of the internal front frame member of the unitary dividing partition. The complementary front inturned flanges terminate in adjacent outflared lips which are externally secured together to increase the strength of the dividing partition, and to which a vertically extending semi-tubular edging strip is telescopically interlocked. The upper and lower ends of the front semi-tubular edging strip are shaped to interfit with the front ends of the horizontal cap members, and the joints so formed are preferably welded together and burnished to provide finished upper and lower corners for the unitary dividing partition.

When the front wall forming panel or pilaster is prefabricated as a unit, it may be composed of complementary inner and outer facing pans having a longitudinal height substantially corresponding to the vertical height of the front end of the dividing partition to which it is to be applied, and has a transverse width of three to eight inches or more, as determined by the dimensional requirements of the door opening to be defined between the adjacent pilasters associated with each cubicle section of the installation. The complementary rear and front facing pans present complementary inturned edge-forming flanges along the vertical and horizontal edges thereof, which terminate in paired outflared lips to which corresponding vertical and horizontally extending semi-tubular edging strips are telescopically applied. During assembly of the pilaster body, a reinforcing plate is bonded to the inner face of the rear facing pan, a reinforcing core is bonded to the reinforcing plate and also bonded to the inner face of the front facing pan when the complementary rear and front facing pan are assembled together. to form the pilaster body. The adjacently paired outflared lips extending along the vertical and horizontal edges of the pilaster body are externally secured together before the semitubular edging strips are applied thereto, to provide a strong and rigid pilaster construction. The unitary pilaster is rigidly mounted on the front end of the unitary dividing partition as by suitable brackets secured to the outer face of the rear facing pan and to the reinforcing plate contained therein, and also secured as by thru-bolts extending through the front ends of the paired side wall facing sections and the internal front frame member of the unitary dividing partition.

In another form of this invention, each cubicle section may be fabricated as an integral unit, with the front wall forming panel or pilaster fabricated as an integral part of the dividing partition part. In such construction, the internal framework of the dividing partition part'may be similar in construction to the internal framework used in constructing a unitary dividing partition, except that no internal front frame member need be employed. The internal framework for the dividing partition part of the composite dividing partition and pilaster unit, may comprise a vertically extending base frame member channelshaped in transverse section, and with or without channelshaped horizontally extending arms secured to the upper and lower ends thereof. A series of vertically spaced and horizontally extending wedge'shaped bracing members have the base ends thereof bonded to the inner faces of the web portion and side flanges of the vertically extend ing channel-shaped base frame member, and extend to the front end of the dividing partition part.

The paired side wall forming panels for this unitary dividing partition and pilaster construction together present paired inturned flanges along the rear vertical ends thereof which overlap and are rigidly secured to the rear face of the channel-shaped base frame member, and together present forwardly tapering side wall facing sections which form the side walls of the dividing partition part. The upper and lower ends of the paired side wall facing sections present paired inturned flanges which overlap the outer faces of the uppermost and lowermost wedgeshaped bracing members, and terminate in paired outflared lips to which horizontally extending upper and lower cap members may be telescopically interlocked.

The front ends of the side wall facing sections of the unitary dividing partition and pilaster construction present laterally flared and transversely aligned flange sections which together form the rear wall of the pilaster part. A sound deadening and reinforcing core is bonded to the inner faces of the laterally extending flange sections, and to the adjacent front ends of the horizontally extending and wedge-shaped bracing members exposed therebetween. A front facing pan is applied and adhesively bonded to the pilaster reinforcing core, and presents inturned edge-forming flanges along the vertical and horizontal edges thereof which are complementary to correspondingly inturned edge-forming flanges presented by the vertical and horizontal ends of the laterally extending flange sections which form the rear wall of the pilaster part. The complementary vertical and horizontally extending edgeforming flanges terminate in outwardly flared lips which are externally welded or bonded together to provide a strong pilaster part, and corresponding semi-tubular edging strips are telescopically applied and interlocked to the outflared lips.

Upper and lower horizontally extending cap members, each presenting inturned lips, are telescopically interlocked with the paired outflared lips extending along the upper and lower ends of the side wall-forming sections of the dividing partition part. The front ends of the upper and lower cap members are preferably coped to interlit with the horizontally extending semi-tubular edging strips applied to the adjacent horizontal ends of the pilaster body, and the joints as thus formed are preferably welded and burnished to provide finished joints.

Either one or both of the vertical jamb forming edges of the unitary pilaster, or the pilaster part of the unitary dividing partition and pilaster unit, may present one or more pre-formed seating and locking portions to which a door stop, hinge bracket, or like hardware element may be rigidly secured, and which further facilitates the telescopic application of the vertical and horizontal edging strips to the pilaster body.

Dividing partitions and front wall forming pilasters associated therewith, when constructed in accordance wit with this invention, are relatively light in weight, strong and rigid in construction, and will withstand the most severe downsnag, sideway, bending, warping, twisting and other deformation strains which may be imposed thereon by external forces during many years of use and abuse.

This invention further embraces means for rigidly anchoring the base end of each dividing partition to the vertical room wall in a manner to prevent downsag or sidesway of the dividing partition. Means are additionally provided for precisely leveling the base end of each dividing partition of the cubicle installation, so that the dividing partitions will laterally extend in exact parallelism when mounted on the vertical room wall, and which leveling means may be manipulated to apply bracing tension on the wall anchoring means to insure that the base end of each dividing partition is rigidly and immovably anchored to the vertical room wall.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cubicle assembly constructed in accordance with this invention as the same would appear when installed in an interior room and supported in cantilever suspension from the tile faced vertical wall thereof, and in spaced relation to the room floor and ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section of the cubicle assembly as the same would appear when viewed along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and showing means which may be used to level and rigidly anchor the base end of each dividing partition of the cubicle assembly in cantilever suspension from the tile faced vertical wall of the room;

FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the cubicle sections of the cubicle assembly as viewed along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and showing the unitary dividing partition and the unitary front wall forming pilaster attached by brackets thereto, and which further illustrates the means which may be employed for rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition in cantilever suspension from the vertical room wall;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the unitary dividing partition as rigidly mounted on the vertical room wall, with the front wall forming pilaster detached from the dividing partition;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of the unitary dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along ine 5-5 of FIG. 3 and showing certain details of its construction;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the unitary dividing partition in exploded relation to the vertical room wall and showing in further detail the means employed for leveling and rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition to the vertical room wall, this view also showing certain components of the dividing partition partially assembled and other components in eX- ploded relation;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing cer tain components of the unitary dividing partition in assembled relation as viewed from the base end thereof, this view also showing the leveling and tensioning means as applied to the base end of the dividing partition, and a fragmentary perspective view of the vertical front edging strip of the dividing partition and the unitary front wall forming pilaster, in exploded relation to the dividing partition;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the unitary dividing partition and a vertical section of the vertical room wall, this view also showing further details of the means employed for leveling and rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition to the vertical room wall;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the vertical room wall and associated means for rigidly anchoring the dividing partition in cantilever suspension to the vertical room wall, this view also showing further details of the base end of the dividing partition in exploded relation to the Wall anchoring means, with the leveling means adjustably secured to the base end of the dividing partition;

FIG. 10 is an other fragmentary section of the base end of the dividing partition as anchored to and leveled with respect to the vertical room wall and as the same would appear when viewed along line 10-10 of FIG. 8, this view also showing the wall filler strips in exploded relation to the base end of the dividing partition; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the unitary dividing partition with its leveled base end rigidly anchored in cantilever suspension from the vertical room wall and with the removable wall filler strips applied thereto, this view also showing a horizontal section of the unitary front wall forming pilaster secured by brackets to the vertical front end of the unitary dividing partition.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a leveling and tension pad designed to be adjust ably secured to the base end of the dividing partition and to brace against the frontal plate applied to the vertical room wall in the manner shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 11; and

FIG. 12A is an elevational view, partly in section, of the leveling and tension pad shown in FIG. 12 and illustrating further details of its construction.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a U-shaped base frame made in accordance with this invention and which may be used to form a component part of the internal framework of the dividing partition, to further increase its rigidity and strength;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a dividing partition constructed in accordance with this invention and which incorporates the U-shaped base frame shown in FIG. 13 as a part of its internal framework, this view also showing the front vertical edging strip and the upper and lower cap members in exploded relation to assembled components of the dividing partition, certain parts being shown in section to reveal structural details;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the unitary dividing partition shown in FIG. 14 as it would appear when fully assembled, certain parts being broken away to reveal structural details;

FIG. 15A is a fragmentary vertical section of this dividing partition as it would appear when viewed along line ISA-15A of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 15B is another fragmentary vertical section of this dividing partition as it appears when viewed along line 15B-15B of FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a unitary dividin partition made in accordance with this invention whose upper and lower cap members present relatively flat facing sections;.

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the base end of the unitary dividing partition shown in FIG. 16 as the same would appear when viewed along line 17-17 thereof;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the front corners of the unitary dividing partition shown in FIG. 16 and showing the manner in which the front end of the relatively flat cap member of the dividing partition is interfitted and welded to the adjacent end of the front vertical edging strip thereof to provide a finished corner, certain parts being broken away to illustrate structural details thereof;

FIG. 19 is another perspective'view of the dividing partition shown. in FIG. 16 as the same would appear when viewed from the base end thereof, certain parts being broken away to illustrate structural details;

FIG. 20 is a vertical transverse section of this dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along line 20-20 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is another vertical section of this dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along line 21-21 of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 22 is a further vertical section of this dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along line 22-22 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a further modified form of a unitary dividing partition made in accordance with this invention, the side wall facing sections of the side wallforming panels of the dividing partition presenting paired wedge-shaped flanges extending inwardly along the upper and lower ends thereof, whose inner edges terminate in adjacently paired outflared locking lips extending along the medial center line of the dividing partition, and to which a horizontally extending semi-circular edging strip is telescopically interlocked;

FIG. 24 is an elevational view of the base end of the dividing partition shown in FIG. 23 as the same would appear when viewed along line 24-24 of FIG. 23';

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the front corners of the unitary dividing partition shown. in FIG. 23, and which illustrates in further detail the manner in which the front end of the horizontally extending semi-tubular cap member is fitted and welded to the adjacent end of the front vertical edging strip of the dividing partition, certain parts being broken away to illustrate structural details;

FIG. 26 is another perspective view of the dividing partition shown in FIG. 23 as viewed from the base end thereof, certain parts being broken away to reveal structural details;

FIG. 27 is a vertical transverse section of this dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along line 27-27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is another vertical transverse section of this dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along line 28-28 of FIG. 26-; and

FIG. 29 is a further vertical transverse section of this dividing partition as the same would appear when viewed along lines 29-29 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a cubicle assembly constructed in accordance with this invention and composed of a series of cubicle sections each presenting a front wallforming pilaster fabricated as an integral part of the dividing partition with which it is associated, this view showing the cubicle assembly as the same would appear when installed in an interior room and supported in cantilever suspension from the tile faced vertical wall thereof and in spaced relation to the floor and ceiling;

FIG. 31 is a horizontal section of the cubicle assembly shown in FIG. 30 as the same would appear when viewed along line 31-31 thereof, this viewalso showing means which may be used for leveling and rigidly anchoring the base ends of the dividing partitions in cantilever suspension to the tile faced vertical wall of the room;

FIG. 32 is a side view of this cubicle assembly as viewed along line 32-32 of FIG. 31, and which shows one of its dividing partitions and pilaster units whose base end is rigidly anchored in cantilever suspension from the vertical room wall;

FIG. 33 is a fragmentary elevation of the dividing partition and pilaster unit shown in FIG. 32 with certain parts broken away to reveal structural details, this view also showing a vertical section of the room wall and further details of the means employed for leveling and rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition part to the vertical room wall;

FIG. 34 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the vertical room wall, the dividing partition and front wallforming pilaster unit as the same would appear when viewed along line 34-34 of FIG. 33, this view also showing further details of the means employed for leveling and rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition to the vertical room wall and modified wall filler strips in exploded relation to the dividing partition;

FIG. 35 is a fragmentary perspective view of a front corner of this dividing partition and pilaster unit which shows the manner in which the front end of the cap member as applied to the dividing partition part is coped into matching relation to the adjacent horizontal edging strip of the front wall-forming pilaster part;

FIG. 36 is an elevational view of the base end of the dividing partition part of the cubicle unit as the same would appear when viewed along line 36-35 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 37 is a vertical transverse section of the dividing 9 partition part as the same would appear when viewed along line 3737 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 38 is an elevational view of the front wall-forming pilaster part of the dividing partition and pilaster unit shown in FIGS. 33, 34 and 35, the front wall-facing pan of the pilaster being partially broken away to reveal the internal reinforcing core and the rear wall-forming sections of the pilaster which are formed as an integral part of the facing panels of the dividing partition, and as the same would appear when viewed along line 38-38 of FIG. 33, this view also showing the upper hinge bracket and the lower hinge bracket made in accordance with this invention in exploded relation to bracket receiving seat formations formed on one vertical edge of the pilaster body, and a reversible door stop made in accordance with this invention in exploded relation to the door stop receiving seat formation formed on the other vertical edge of the pilaster body; and

FIG. 38A is an exploded elevational view of the rear wall-forrming sections of the pilaster part which form an integral part of the side wall-facing panels of the dividing partition part, this view also showing the perimetrical edging strips of the pilaster in exploded relation to the rear wall-forming sections of the pilaster.

FIG. 39 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pilaster which shows the door stop receiving seat formation of the pilaster, and a reversible door stop in exploded relation thereto;

FIG. 40 is a fragmentary vertical section of the pilaster shown in FIG. 39 and a vertical section of the reversible door stop in process of application to the pilaster;

FIG. 40A is a transverse section of the pilaster and associated door stop applied thereto, as the same would appear when viewed along line 4GA-4ilA of FIG. 49;

FIG. 40B is another transverse section of the pilaster and reversible door stop as finally locked to the pilaster, and as the same would appear when viewed along line 4tlB40B of FIG. 40; and

FIG. 400 is another transverse section of the pilaster and reversible door stop applied thereto, and as the same would appear when viewed along line 40C49C of FIG. 40.

FIG. 41 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further form of dividing partition and front wall forming pilaster unit constructed in accordance with this invention, and wherein the side wall-forming panels of the dividing partition present upper and lower wedge-shaped flange sections integral therewith and which are interlocked together by horizontally extending upper and lower semitubular cap members which extend along the medial center line of the dividing partition part, with the front end of the semi-tubular cap member coped into matching relation with the adjacent horizontal edging strip of the pilaster part, this view also showing wall filler strips of modified form applied to the base end of the dividing partition part.

FIG. 42 is a vertical section of the dividing partition part shown in FIG. 41 as the same would appear when viewed along line 42-42 thereof, this view also showing the wall filler strips in exploded relation to the base end of the dividing partition part;

FIG. 43 is an exploded perspective view of certain components of the dividing partition part of the cubicle unit shown in FIG. 41, some of the components being fragmentarily shown;

FIG. 44 is a top plan view of the modified dividing partition and pilaster unit shown in FIG. 41 in exploded relation to the vertical room wall, this view also showing leveling and tension pads adjustably attached to the base end of the dividing partition part, and means associated with a vertical room wall for rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition part thereto;

FIG. 45 is an exploded plan view of certain components of the dividing partition and pilaster unit and wall filler 10 strips shown in FIGS. 41, 42 and 44, and which reveals further structural details thereof;

FIG. 46 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the dividing partition and pilaster unit as the same would appear when viewed along line 46-46 of FIG. 41; and

FIG. 47 is a fragmentary perspective view of a front corner of the dividing partition part and the adjacent end of the front wall-forming pilaster part of the cubicle unit shown in FIGS. 41 and 44, this view illustrating the manner in which the front end of the horizontally extending semi-tubular cap member of the dividing partition part is coped and matched to the adjacent horizontal edging strip of the pilaster part.

FIG. 48 is an elevational view of a modified form of leveling and tension applying pad which is also shown adjustably applied to the base frame member of the dividing partition as shown in FIGS. 44, 45 and 46, and which insures rigid attachment of the base end of the dividing partition to the vertical room wall; and

FIG. 48A is another elevational view, partly in section, of the leveling and tension pad shown in FIG. 48, and which reveals further details of the construction thereof.

FIG. 49 is a vertical section of a two-sectioned building wall of masonry construction as customarily spaced apart to provide interior space for service piping, and wherein one section of the wall is tiled to provide the interior wall of the room in which the cubicle assembly is installed, this view showing modified anchoring elements installed during erection of the interior room wall and to which the base end of the dividing partition may be anchored, this view also showing the base end of the dividing partition and associated means for leveling and rigidly anchoring the base end of the dividing partition to the vertical room wall;

FIG. 49A is a horizontal section of the construction shown in FIG. 49 as viewed along line 49A-49A thereof; and

FIG. 49B is a horizontal section of the construction shown in FIG. 49 as viewed along lines 49B49B thereof.

FIG. 50 is a vertical section of a two sectioned building Wall having wing anchors which may be applied to the interior room wall section after the twin sectioned building wall has been erected, this view also showing the leveling and tensioning means applied to the base end of the dividing partition and the means for rigidly securing the base end of the dividing partition in cantilever suspension to the wing anchors;

FIG. 50A is a fragmentary transverse section of the construction shown in FIG. 50 as the same would appear when viewed along line 59A50A thereof; and

FIG. 50B illustrates the manner in which the wing anchors may be applied to the previously erected vertical room wall.

FIG. 51 is a vertical section of a twin-sectioned building wall which shows modified anchoring elements which may be applied to the interior room wall section after erection thereof, this view also showing leveling and tensioning means applied to the base end of the dividing partition and means for rigidly securing the base end of the dividing partition to these anchoring elements; and

FIG. 51A is a transverse section of the construction shown in FIG. 51 as the same would appear when viewed along line 51A51A of FIG. 51.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and the specification.

Vertical wall suspended compartments or cubicles con structed in accordance with this invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are composed of one or more cubicle sections each comprising a separately fabricated dividing partition unit S which is generally wedge-shaped in horizontal section, and a separately fabricated front wallforming pilaster P which is attached to the front end of the dividing partition as by brackets 15. Each dividing partition unit S and pilaster unit P may be constructed as shown in FIGS. 3-11, or FIGS. 1315, or FIGS. 16-22, or FIGS. 23-29. The vertical base end of each dividing partition unit is rigidly secured to the inner vertical wall V of the room in which the cubicle sections are installed, as by anchoring means A as shown in FIGS. 1-1 1, or anchoring means A as shown in FIGS. 49-4913, or anchoring means A" as shown in FIGS. S50B, or anchoring means A" as shown in FIGS. 51 and 51A. The anchoring means A and A are designed to be embedded in the interior vertical room wall during construction the-reof, while the anchoring means A and A may be embedded in the interior vertical room wall after construction thereof.

These anchoring means are designed to rigidly secure the base end of each dividing partition in spaced relation to the tile facing Vt of the vertical room wall V; and cooperating with leveling and tension applying pads T formed as shown in FIGS. 12 and 12A, or leveling and tension applying pads T formed as shown in FIGS. 48 and 48A, which are adjustable after application to the base end of the dividing partition, to insure that the medial center line of respective dividing partitions of the cubical units are in precise parallelism and so maintained during use and abuse of the installation.

After the dividing partition of each cubicle unit has been leveled and rigidly anchored to the vertical'room wall to support the cubicle unit in cantilever suspension, the space defined between the vertical room wall and the base end of each dividing partition and which permits external manipulation and adjustment of the anchoring means and leveling and tension applying pads, is concealed by removable wall filler strips F which extend around the base end of the dividing partition, and snugly abut the tiled face of the vertical room wall.

When the dividing partitions S are constructed as more fully hereafter descri'bed, and when the base ends thereof are properly leveled and anchored to the vertical room as hereafter described, a precisely dimensioned door opening is defined between adjacent pilasters as mounted on the front ends of the vertical wall suspended dividing partitions, and in which a prefabricated door D may be positioned and swingabiy hinged to the vertical edge of the adjacent .pilaster.

The vertical wall suspended dividing partition unit S as shown in FIGS. 3-11, has an internal framework composed of a vertical base frame member 1 formed of'a metal plate approximately one-eighth inch thick, and whose vertical length substantially corresponds to the vertical height of the dividing partition. The base frame member 1 is preferably channel shaped in transverse section, and presents a web portion 1' which is approximately five to six inches in transverse width, and side flanges 1" approximately three inches wide and having a slight forward taper to accord with the wedge-shaped form of the partition itself. The internal framework also includes a vertical front frame member 3 which has a vertical length substantially corresponding to the vertical length of the channel-shaped base frame member 1, and a transverse width or thickness in the order of one to two inches. The vertical front frame member 3 as shown in FIG. 6 is made of treated hardwood, but can be made of metal or plastic in the form of a three-sided channel or rectangular tube.

A series of horizontally extending bracing members 5 of generally wedge-shaped form in horizontal length, extend between and may be adhesively bonded to the inner face of the web portion 1 and tapered side flanges 1" of the channel-shaped base frame member 1 and to the inner face of the vertical front frame member 3. The wedgeshaped bracing members 5 may be made of wood or metal, but as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are preferably composed of a series of corrugated paperboard layers bonded together by bonding adhesive and chemically treated for additional stiffness and heat resistance and to prevent shrinkage in use. In the framework construction shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, seven wedge-shaped bracing members 5 are employed, each having a thickness of one to three inches. The uppermost and lowermost wedge-shaped bracing members 5 are positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends of the vertical base frame member 1 and the front vertical frame member 3, with the next adjacent wedge-shaped reinforcing members 5 positioned approximately six inches therefrom. The remaining intermediate wedge-shaped bracing members 5 are spaced approximately one foot apart.

The side walls of the wedge-shaped dividing partition shown in FIGS. 3ll are formed by a pair of sidewall forming panels 2-2 each formed from metal or plastic sheeting of approximately 20 gauge thickness, and each panel 2 presents a fiat side wall facing section 2a having an inturned rear vertical flange 2b as shown in FIG. 7 which overlaps the rear face of the web portion 1' of the channel-shaped vertical base frame member 1 and is welded or otherwise rigidly bonded thereto. The front vertical end of each side wall facing section 2a presents an inturned front flange 22 which snugly overlaps the fiat front face of the vertical front frame. member 3 and.

terminates in an outflared front lip 21. When the complementary side wall facing panels 2-2 are assembled to the internal framework the adjacent outflared front lips 2f-2f thereof are secured together by welds or bonding adhesive w externally applied to the crotch defined between the adjacent outflared front lips 2f-2f.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, each side wall forming panel 2 also. presents an inturned flange 2c extending along the upper and the lower horizontal edges thereof which snugly overlap the adjacent upper and lower ends of the adjacent side flange 1" of the channel-shaped base frame member 1 and the upper and lower ends of the vertical front frame member 3. The paired inturned flanges 2c2c also snugly overlap and may be adhesively bonded to the outside faces of the adjacent uppermost and lowermost horizontally extending wedge-shaped reinforcing members 5-5. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, each horizontally extending inturned flange 20 has a transverse width of approximately one-half inch to one inch, and terminates in an outfiared lip 2d.

A panel reinforcing liner 4 is adhesively bonded to the inner face of each side wall facing section 2a and extends between the vertical terminal edge of the adjacent side flange 1 of the channel-shaped base frame member 1 V and the adjacent inner face of the vertical front frame member 3-. Each panel reinforcing liner 4 has a height substantially corresponding to the vertical height of the base frame member 1 and front frame member 3. Each panel liner 4 is preferably made of relatively light but strong and rigid material such as chemically treated plywood, composition board or corrugated paperboard as shown in FIG. 6, and has a thickness of approximately one-eighth inch or a thickness which substantially corresponds to the thickness of the side flanges 1" of the relatively heavy gauge channel-shaped base frame memiber 1. The side edges of all the horizontally extending wedge-shaped bracing members 5 are adhesively bonded to the inner faces of the adjacent panel liners 4.

Upper and lower horizontally extending cap members 6, which are wedge-shaped in horizontal length and extend from the web portion 1 of the channel-shaped base frame member 1 to the front face of the vertical front frame member 3, may be formed of a relatively light gauge metal or plastic sheet. The upper and lower horizontally extending cap members 6 as shown in FIGS. 5 and '6, are generally V-shaped in transverse section and present tapered side sections 6b forming a crowned ridge along the medial center line of the dividing partition, and a pair of inturned lips 6a6a along the side edges thereof which telescopically interlock with the paired and horizontally extending outfiared lips 2d2d extending along the upper and lower horizontal ends of the side wall areing sections 2a2a.

A semi-tubular front edging strip 7, presenting a curvilinear facing section 7a and paired inturned locking lips 7b, is vertically telescoped over the inturned fiont vertical flanges 2e2e of the side wall forming panels 2-2, with the outflared locking lips 7b7b of the edging strip interlocked to the adjacent outflared lips 2f2f of the side wall forming panels 2-2. The front ends of each of the upper and lower cap members 6 are mitre cut to interfit with the adjacent mitred ends of the front semitubular edging strip 7, and the corners as thus formed are then welded and burnished to provide finished upper and lower front corners 7c for the dividing partition unit, as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 611, each side wall-facing section 2a has a series of vertically spaced and rectangular shaped holes 48' formed therein adjacent the rear vertical edge thereof, with correspondingly shaped rectangular holes 48' formed in the adjacent tapered side flange 1" of the channel-shaped base frame member 1 in alignment therewith, and which provide access openings through which a manipulating tool may be inserted for purposes hereafter described. The web portion 1 of the channel-shaped base frame member 1 has a series of spaced slot holes 45 through which wall anchored bolts or studs project, and also a series of spaced and threaded holes 35 for attachment to leveling devices T or T as hereafter described, and which cooperate to level and rigidly anchor the base end of the dividing partition to the Vertical room wall V as hereafter described. One of the side wall panels as shown in FIG. 6 may have a rectangular cut-out 49' formed therein, with a corresponding aligned hole formed in the panel liner 4 secured thereto. A receptacle such as a paper roll holder 4h as shown in FIG. 3 may be inset into the cut-out 49, when the dividing partition is to form a component part of a toilet cubicle.

The vertical wall suspended dividing partition as shown in FIGS. 311 can be constructed and fully assembled as a unit at the manufacturing plant by high speed production methods at relatively low cost. For example, the channel-shaped base frame member 1 may be blanked out from a heavy gauge metal plate on a die press, and in which operation the rectangular shaped holes 48' are cut in the side flange portions 1" thereof, and at the same time appropriately spaced holes 45' and 35 are punched from the web portion 1 thereof as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, for attachment of the wall anchoring means A, A, A or A and the leveling and tensioning pads T or T' as hereafter more fully described. The punched and shaped blank may then be accurately shaped into channel form on a press. The front vertical frame member 3, presenting slightly tapered side faces, is then cut to a length which corresponds to the length of the channel shaped base frame member 1. The wedge-shaped reinforcing members 5 may be cut from planks composed of a plurality of layers of chemically treated corrugated paperboard adhesively bonded together to provide a plank thickness in the order of one to three inches. Metal or plastic sheets of generally rectangular form are cut to appropriate size to provide the side wall panels 22, which are then shaped in a press so that each panel provides a side wall facing section 2a, an inturned rear vertical flange 2b, an inturned fiont vertical flange 2e and associated outflared front lip if, and inturned upper and lower flanges 2c each terminating in an outflared lip 2d. A panel liner 4, in the order of approximately one-eighth inch in thickness, is then adhesively bonded to the inner face of each side wall facing section 20:. The upper and lower cap members 6 may be blanked out into Wedgeshaped form from a metal or plastic sheet, the blank then press formed to present tapered side sections 6b6b and inturned lips 611-611 along the longitudinal edges thereof.

In assembling the dividing partition as shown in FIGS. 3-11, the inturned rear vertical flange 2b of one of the side wall forming panels 2 is welded or bonded to the rear face of the web portion 1' of the channel-shaped base frame member 1. The front vertical frame member 3 is inserted, with its front vertical face in abutment against the inner face of the inturned front flange 2e. The horizontally extending wedge shaped reinforcing members 5 are inserted with the base ends thereof adhesively bonded to the inner faces of the web portion 1' and side flanges 1" of the channel-shaped base frame member 1, the front ends thereof adhesively bonded to the inner face of the front vertical frame member 3, and the adjacent side edges of each wedge shaped reinforcing member 5 adhesively bonded to the inner face of the panel liner 4 previously applied to the side wall facing panel 2. Horizontally extending strips of adhesive may then be applied to the opposite side edges of the horizontally extending wedgeshaped reinforcing members 5, or to the panel liner 4 bonded to the side wall facing section 2a of the companion side wall forming panel 2, and the companion panel then applied to the assembly, with its inturned rear vertical flange 2b positioned in overlapped relation and welded or bonded to the outer face of the Web portion 1' of the channel-shaped base frame member 1, and with its front vertical flange 2e snugly overlapping and bonded to the front vertical face of the front vertical frame member 3. The side wall facing sections Za-Za of the paired side wall-forming panels 22. as thus applied may then be pressed together to assure firm adhesive bond between the panel liners 4-4 and the tapered side edges of the Wedge-shaped reinforcing members 5. The front semitubular edging strip 7 is then telescopically applied to the front inturned flanges 2e-2e of the side wall-forming panels 2-2, with the inturned lips 7b7b of the semitubular edging strip 7 interlocked to the adjacent outflared lip portions Zf-Zf of the side wall panels 22.

The upper and lower cap members 66 are then horizontally telescoped over the upper and lower ends of the side wall facing sections 2a-2a, with the paired inturned lips 6a-6a thereof interlocked to the paired outflared lips 2d-2d of the panel sections 2a-2a. The upper and lower mitre cut ends of the front edging strip 7 are brought into mitre match with the coped front ends of the upper and lower cap members 6, and a seam weld is then applied to the upper and lower corner joints as thus formed to provide finished upper and lower front corners 70 for the dividing partition as shown in FIG. 4.

Each fr0nt-wall forming panel or pilaster unit P for the vertical wall suspended cubicle as shown in FIGS. 1-4, has a vertical height substantially corresponding to the vertical height of the dividing partition S and has a transverse width in the order of three to ten inches or more, and of such width that adjacent aligned pilasters which form parts of the mounted cubicle assembly provide therebetween an accurately sized door opening in which theprefabricated door D is positioned. Each of the panels or pilaster units P is composed of a pair of cornplementary outer and inner facing pans 10-10, each shaped in a press from a rectangular blank of relatively light gauge metal or plastic sheet, to provide a rectangular wall facing section 10a having inturned edge forming flanges 10b along both vertical and horizontal edges thereof, with each edge forming flange 10b terminating in an outflared lip 10c.

A bracing plate 11 is welded along the perimeter thereof to the inside surface of the facing section 10a of the rear facing pan 10' to provide solid secure-ment for the saddle brackets 15 which secure the pilaster unit P to the front vertical edge of the dividing partition unit S as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11. A core 12 of sound deadening and reinforcing material, such as a corrugated paperboard or fibreglass slab, may be fitted within the rear facing pan Hi and adhesively bonded to the bracing plate 11 and the exposed inner face portions of the rear facing pan 1%. The outer face of the core 12 is then coated with adhesive to bond the core to the inner surface of the outer facing pan It as applied thereto. The complementary outer and inner pans 1040 present their inturned edge 

8. A CUBICLE ASSEMBLY DESIGNED FOR CANTILEVER SUSPENSION FROM A VERTICAL ROOM WALL AND IN SPACED RELATION TO THE ROOM FLOOR AND CEILING, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION; A DIVIDING PARTITION GENERALLY WEDGE-SHAPED IN HORIZONTAL SECTION, MEANS FOR RIGIDLY SECURING THE BASE END OF SAID DIVIDING PARTITION IN SPACED RELATION TO AND IN CANTILEVER SUSPENSION FROM A VERTICAL ROOM WALL, A FRONT WALL FORMING PILASTER FIXED TO THE FRONT END OF SAID WEDGESHAPED DIVIDING PARTITION AND HAVING A VERTICAL LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE VERTICAL LENGTH OF SAID DIVIDING PARTITION, AND A DOOR SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON A JAMB EDGE OF SAID PILASTER; SAID DIVIDING PARTITION INCLUDING A VERTICAL BASE FRAME MEMBER, SIDE FACINE PANELS SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL BASE FRAME MEMBER AND TAPERING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, INTERNAL REINFORCING MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID FACING PANELS, AND UPPER AND LOWER CAP MEMBERS SECURED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL ENDS OF SAID FACING PANELS; SAID 